It's never great news when the jobless numbers are this high but at least they were close to the forecast. It's weak but the numbers also didn't show any unpleasant surprises.
The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless aid fell 12,000 last week, Labor Department data showed on Thursday, while so-called continued claims rose to a fresh record as the recession battered employment.
Initial claims for state unemployment insurance benefits declined to a seasonally adjusted 631,000 in the week ended May 16 from a revised 643,000 the prior week, the Labor Department said. New claims have declined in three of the last four weeks.
Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast 630,000 new claims versus a previously reported count of 637,000 the week before.
